But in other parts of the world where there are other things even more important than cricket going on, it is very hard to keep that momentum and public interest going.

The International Cricket Council seems to think the answer is to take out the associate nations, but I think they are wrong. They have to be incentivised and encouraged. They need to play 50-over cricket to improve.

All you have to do is play one of their matches in the morning and play a more high-profile game in the afternoon.

That way the associate matches would not be in the spotlight as they are now, when often they are the only match being played and it looks terrible.

They have to sort that out and the answer is not to chuck them out of the tournament.

DID HOSTING THE TOURNAMENT IN THREE COUNTRIES WORK?

Some of the journeys for the teams were unacceptable, with players travelling for up to 13 hours between matches.

The lay-offs between some of the games were far too long and players lost intensity.

But the enthusiasm for cricket in that part of the world is extraordinary and the embracing of the World Cup in Bangladesh in particular was very, very moving.

You witness how we here quibble about the Olympic Stadium, and its legacy, and how much it is costing - whereas Bangladesh, where most people have got nothing, really bought into the World Cup. It was very inspiring to see how much they loved it and were proud to be hosting it.

WHAT WERE THE HIGHLIGHTS?

England's tie with India was the best match. It was a classic example of 50-over cricket, which ebbed and flowed in a way that 20-over cricket never can.

The contrasting innings by Mahela Jayawardene and Mahendra Dhoni in the final was another highlight.

They just showed how in 50-over cricket two very different players, one a silky smooth touch player and the other a brutal, bottom-handed big-hitter can score at almost identical rates and have a major influence on the game.

BIG NAMES BOW OUT

Muttiah Muralitharan and Sachin Tendulkar both played very second-rate matches in the end and it just goes to show that no matter how great a sports star you are, you have to write the fairytale ending.

For Murali, it was a bit of a sad way for it all to end, but he will be remembered as one of the most controversial, most successful, most genial cricketers of his generation.

There will always be people who will mutter about the way Murali bowls. But he has always ridden that controversy with a very broad smile and I think everyone will always admire him for that.